Chris McAlister hosts an event in memory of the trainer’s late husband

The British 400-metre hurdler was the creator of the Roger Armstrong Memorial Meet, where athletes battled the elements

Despite the torrential rain at the David Weir Leisure Centre on July 5, it felt like it took more than just bad weather to dampen expectations for the inaugural Roger Armstrong Memorial Meet.

The event, organised by British 400m hurdler Chris McAlister in memory of his coach’s late husband, took place in conditions that often bordered on appalling – but the quality of the course was more than enough to dispel any notion that good weather was necessary for a good atmosphere.

The soundtrack certainly helped. The selection of electronic classics kept the audience entertained, even if the 4.0 m/s wind made the lyrics of “Galvanise” by the Chemical Brothers a little more incomprehensible.

The calibre of the athletes was also an advantage. In the 400m hurdles, British finalists Efe Okoro and Tyri Donovan competed in the men’s race, while Jessie Knight competed in the women’s race, just hours after being named in the British team’s squad for the Paris Olympic Games.

Organising the competition was a new venture for McAlister, who turns 30 this year and took over the organisation of the event after Roger Armstrong – the late husband of McAlister’s trainer Marina – sadly passed away in February.

Sophia McCart, Elicia Lacey and Zoe Dolan (Daniel Rees)

McAlister’s efforts to organize this meeting were remarkable, not least because he was able to reconcile this commitment with his Olympic ambitions.

Not only did the meeting reflect Mr Armstrong’s enthusiasm and light-heartedness, but the quality of the competition and the smooth running of the event were also important successes.

The men’s 400 metres hurdles featured the third and fourth placed athletes from last weekend’s UK Championships final.

Donovan, who has already had an outstanding 2024, ran an excellent 49.40 to beat competition from Okoro, who himself has made an impressive comeback after an injury-plagued 2023.

Knight also ran her season’s best time of 55.47, making her the fastest woman in the race, finishing ahead of Hayley McLean.

Jessie Knight (Daniel Rees)

There were also races to give aspiring club athletes the opportunity to test themselves.

Personal bests were set by Sutton and District U20 800m runner Samuel Kalembo, who ran 2:04.73, and his U17 clubmate Abidanab Panchanlingam, who ran 2:06.68. Meanwhile, U15 athlete India Kaur improved her personal best to 2:23.29.

Despite rapidly deteriorating conditions, the athletes and officials – who spent the entire evening lugging hurdles around – fought on.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Will Ritchie-Moulin justified his move from the 400m hurdles with another sub-14-second performance, crossing the finish line as a comfortable winner in 13.93.

Will Ritchie-Moulin runs 13.93 and wins the 110 m hurdles (Daniel Rees)

Elicia Lacey from Tonbridge then ran the 80m hurdles in 11.73 to continue her preparations for the English Schools Championships later this month.

The competition, which was also attended by Jon Ridgeon, CEO of World Athletics, and Ian Hodge, statistician of the UKA, ended with a parade heat of 100 m.

Not content with his victory in the 110m hurdles, Ritchie-Moulin took the win with a new personal best of 10.78, beating Joshua Weru and Tobias Hawkins, who finished joint second with 10.80.

If the success of Friday’s meet is any indication, this will not be the last time the Roger Armstrong Memorial Meet will be on athletes’ calendars.

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